What future holds for recently eliminated teams

Published 4:00 am, Sunday, October 9, 2011

The Yankees and Phillies, holders of baseball's biggest payrolls and best records, are done, darting back to the drawing board to make sense of how their title-or-bust plans crumbled. The Rays and Diamondbacks, both near the bottom in payroll, might wonder if that's all there is.

Here are the what-next scenarios for the four playoff teams that got bounced in the Division Series:

Yankees: Nine-figure contracts are rarely a good idea. The Yankees gave one to CC Sabathia, who's about to opt out after three years (remaining: four years, $92 million), and could give him another. They're more than willing to overpay, especially considering the holes in the rotation. Never mind his chunky frame and previous knee surgery. ... The Yankees will be in hot pursuit of the Rangers' C.J. Wilson, the top free-agent starter, and Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish. ... Breaking Barry Bonds' homer record suddenly isn't a cinch for Alex Rodriguez, who needs 134. He homered once per 23 at-bats, his worst ratio since 1997, and he continued to be overmatched in the playoffs (2-for-18, six strikeouts). Six years remain on his contract, and he's 36. Three years remain on Derek Jeter's, and he's 37. Not a good theme. ... Jorge Posada's walk-off piece during an emotional postgame interview suggested he knew he had played his final game in pinstripes, his .429 average in the series notwithstanding.

Phillies: Ex-Phillies Larry Bowa and Mitch Williamspreached on the MLB Network before Friday's game that it would be the biggest in franchise history, that this team with this rotation was too loaded to settle for anything less than a World Series title. Whoops. In their first must-win game of the year, the Phillies never crossed the plate. ... After making his team's final out of 2010 to ignite a Giants celebration, Ryan Howardwas the guy again, meekly retired to set off a Cardinal carnival. His OPS dropped a third straight year. Now he has an Achilles tendon injury. And his five-year, $125 million contract kicks in next year. ... Shortstop Jimmy Rollins, outfielder Raul Ibanezand closer Ryan Madsonare free agents, and pitchers Roy Oswaltand Brad Lidgehave options totaling $28.5 million.

Rays: The run might be done. A team with limited resources can win only so long, and the Rays are nearing the end of their cycle. Their lineup was a hitter or two short, and owner Stuart Sternberg, whose team is in a position similar to the A's - in pursuit of a stadium that's not there - is promising nothing other than Major League Baseball will "vaporize" the franchise at some point. ... Their $42 million payroll ranked 29th, and they struggle to sell out playoff games. Tuesday's crowd of 28,299 was the smallest playoff gathering since Yankees at Brewers in 1981. For that reason, it's a better chance the Rays lose hitters than acquire them, and the list features center fielder B.J. Upton, who'd be a perfect fit atop the Giants' lineup. Upton, who'd be in the same division as his brother, Justin of the Diamondbacks, is entering his final year of arbitration eligibility and would make about $7 million.

Diamondbacks: The comebacks stopped. After leading the majors in come-from-behind wins and swiping the NL West from the Giants, the Diamondbacks finally went away. No disgrace like the Yankees and Phillies. After losing 97 games in 2010, reaching the playoffs was victory enough. While Yanks President Randy Levinespoke of a wasted season, Diamondbacks President Derrick Halltweeted, "I have never been prouder of my @dbacks." ... With a full season of first baseman Paul Goldschmidtand the return of shortstop Stephen Drew(broken ankle), the offense won't shrink. But GM Kevin Towers, who ought to be Executive of the Year, will continue to tweak. ... The rotation could use another arm to complement Ian Kennedyand Daniel Hudson; hot prospects Jarrod Parkerand Trevor Bauerawait.

New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez walks off after striking out to end the game as Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila heads for the mound and umpire Ted Barrettt looks on, after Game 5 of baseball's American League division series Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011, at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Tigers won 3-2 to win the series. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun) less

New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez walks off after striking out to end the game as Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila heads for the mound and umpire Ted Barrettt looks on, after Game 5 of baseball's American ... more

Photo: Bill Kostroun, AP

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Philadelphia Phillies' Ryan Howard (6) reacts after falling down injured on his way to first as he makes the last out during the ninth inning of baseball's Game 5 of the National League division series with the St. Louis Cardinals Friday, Oct. 7, 2011 in Philadelphia. Cardinals won 1-0. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) less

Philadelphia Phillies' Ryan Howard (6) reacts after falling down injured on his way to first as he makes the last out during the ninth inning of baseball's Game 5 of the National League division series with the ... more

Photo: Alex Brandon, AP

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What future holds for recently eliminated teams

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Playoff expansion

Bud Selig's plan to add a fifth playoff team in each league and stage do-or-die games for wild-card entries has been criticized, but consider this: The first round of the playoffs featured three series that went the distance, five games. That Game 5 drama is what would be promised in a one-game wild-card playoff.

The electrifying and zany developments of the regular season's final day, on which the Cardinals and Rays got in and the Braves and Red Sox were knocked out, are rare. Single-game playoffs could be the next best thing.

Unfair? Certainly. It would be a shame to grind through 162 games and get eliminated in a nine-inning finale. But more emphasis would be placed on division titles, not simply reaching the playoffs in any way possible, and wild-card teams would be at a disadvantage, which should be the case anyway.

Around the majors

The union's trade-off to an extra wild card is arranging 15-team leagues and a daily interleague game. Any new playoff format would be subject to collective bargaining, and let's not forget the basic agreement expires Dec. 11. It's baseball's least-discussed topic, which is amazing considering the rocky relationship the owners and players once had - eight work stoppages between 1972 and 1995. For that reason, never anticipate a happy ending, despite 16 years of labor peace. ... In retrospect, Jerry Reinsdorfand Ken Williamshiring Robin Venturaas manager shouldn't be a surprise. The White Sox owner and GM once hired another of their former players who had no managerial experience: Ozzie Guillen. ... If I'm Cubs owner Tom Ricketts, I don't settle for anything less than Boston's been-there-done-that team of GM Theo Epsteinand ex-manager Terry Francona. Unless it's Epstein and RyneSandberg. ... It didn't help the Giants return to the playoffs. Or deter Brian Wilsonand the gang from their daily games of dominoes. But Steve Jobsmight have thought it cool that former managing general partner Bill Neukomhanded out iPads to his players over the summer.